46free

DRAMA
GAMES &
ACTIVITIES

for PRIMARY
 Mrs. B’s JUST PRINT,
DRAMA TRUNK LAMINATE AND CUT
OUT A SET OF DRAMA
CARDS THAT YOU CAN
NEVER BE STUCK FOR A FUN DRAMA ACTIVITY USE OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
AGAIN WITH A SUPER HANDY ARSENAL OF
GO-TO DRAMA CARDS. To laminate cards, cover both sides of the print
outs with stationary contact laminate

Use Drama Trunk Cards for: DRAMA TRUNK before cutting out individual cards.

 PLANNED ACTIVITIES has LOADS of Drama

Cards, including:
 LAST MINUTE ACTIVITIES
 Characters
 ON THE SPOT FUN GAMES
 Quirky Characters  Living Pictures
 WARM UPS / TEAM  Moods  Genres
BUILDING  Locations  Lines
 IMPROVISATION / QUICK  Deaths  Mime
THINKING  Silly Superheroes  Titles
 AUDITIONS / REHEARSALS  Character Switches  Character Tactics
 ROLE PLAY  Olympic Scenes  Great Escapes
 STORYTELLING  Forbidden Word Scenes

PLUS MORE…
 Mrs. B’s
DRAMA TRUNK

46 FREE
DRAMA GAMES + ACTIVITIES
for Primary School

1, 2, 1
Great focus In a circle, first teach the basic chant / number rhythm. Students all chant at the
game that also same time. The pitch gets higher with higher numbers and lowers slightly for the
teachers vocal lower numbers.
rhythm
1
1, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Practice the sequence until students are comfortable.

Extension: Once you have completed the above rhythm, go from 1 to 8 and start
counting downwards.
E.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...... 8
8, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 5, 6, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Drama Trunk Page 1

 Extension: Take out 1 or 2 numbers and replace with claps. Repeat the rhythm with
the claps.
e. g. Replace 3 and 6 with claps
1
1, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 4, clap, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 4, 5, 4, clap, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 4, 5, clap, 5, 4, clap, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 4, 5, clap, 7, clap, 5, 4, clap, 2, 1
1, 2, clap, 4, 5, clap, 7, 8, 7, clap, 5, 4, clap, 2, 1

3 NOSES
A fun physical Students walk around the room. Teacher shouts out “3 noses” and the students
warm up, must form groups with 3 touching noses. Call out different things for students to
promoting create groups with.
group
cooperation Examples (you can add in left or right to these also i.e. 10 left thumbs)
• 5 belly buttons
• 4 big toes
• 10 thumbs
• 3 ears
• 3 knees
• 4 elbows
• 2 cheeks

7 UP
A warm up to In a circle, everyone counts to 7 while waving one arm up and down to the same
get students rhythm as the counting. When the group reaches 7, do the same thing with the
loosened up. other arm, both legs, head and ankles (or whatever part of the body you want to
warm up – make sure if you do the head, it is carefully). After the group has finished
Useful for play
their sets of 7, do them all again, counting up to 6, then 5 and so on until the set is
rehearsals
down to 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.

ACCEPTANCE CIRCLE
One of my Students stand in a circle. The teacher or a student does an action with an
favourites. A accompanying sound (larger is best). The next student in the circle has to copy the
good activity to movement and sound and so forth around the circle.
teach
accepting, this Rules: Students must copy the movement and sound that the person before them
game can get makes, NOT copy the original movement and sound. If someone makes a mistake,
really funny laughs or forgets something, clears their throat etc…, the action will have changed
and it is up to the next person in the circle to copy EXACTLY what has happened
before them, mistakes and all. This can get really funny!

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 2
 ALIEN, TIGER, COW
Warm up game In a circle, teach and practice 3 actions/sounds
encouraging
the whole class ALIEN: index fingers on head (like antenna’s) and say “bleep bleep”
to work TIGER: right hand forward making a clawing action and “roar”
together and COW: hands on stomach with 2 fingers pointing out (like an udder), leaning forward
build and saying “moo”
awareness of
everyone else On the teachers cue, each student decides to become 1 of the 3 (either an alien,
in the class tiger or cow). The group with the least amount of students is out and must sit in the
middle of the circle (e.g. 10 aliens, 7 tigers and 5 cows – the cows would be out).

Variation: Also in a circle, the objective is for everyone to become the same thing at
the same time. On the teachers cue, students become either an alien, tiger or cow.
Keep practicing until everyone is in sync – this won’t happen straight away.

ALPHABET CIRCLE
A good game In a circle, students try to get to the end of the alphabet. The teacher starts by
for “throwing” an “A” to a student. To begin with the letter should accompany a
concentration throwing/pointing action. The student then throws a “B” to someone else and so
forth until the group reaches “Z”. Try to go as fast as possible
Played quickly
• Split the group into 2 teams and have a competition to see who can get to the
end of the alphabet first
• You can use a ball for this activity but pointing should be sufficient
• For more advanced classes, remove the throwing/pointing action and have
students throw the letters with “eye contact” only
• You can switch the alphabet for numbers and see what you can count up to.

ASSOCIATION WALKING
Students begin This is a great activity for younger students to practice word associations. Students
to use word stand in a straight line. The teacher calls out various words (ice cream; dinner;
associations in Olympics; jungle animals etc...) and the students call out words that they can think
a fun way of. For every word, students get to take a step. Instruct students not to take huge
steps! When they reach one side of the room, they can then walk back (if you want
to keep playing).

BALL PASS MIME

A good circle In a circle, students pass a mimed ball to each other (only one ball at a time).
mime activity to Teacher starts the activity, showing the size of the ball. As the game progresses,
develop teacher adds in additional instructions and students respond to the instructions as
pantomime the game continues, catching and throwing the ball as if it has taken on the new
skills characteristics.

• The ball becomes heavier and heavier (until it is really heavy)

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 3
 • The ball becomes lighter and lighter (until it is really light)
• The ball becomes smaller (until it is tiny) (it may also be light or heavy and small)
• The ball becomes bigger and bigger (until it is huge) (and light or heavy)
• The ball becomes slippery
• The ball becomes sticky
• The ball becomes hotter / colder
• The ball becomes spiky

Check out Drama Trunk for more MIME resources!

BALL COUNT
A fun team In small groups or as the entire class, students must keep the ball in the air for as
building activity long as possible. Each time the ball is bounced back into the air, the whole group
must count out 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. Aim for a target number and try to beat old records.
You will need a
soft ball Rules:
• The same person can only hit the ball 1 time in a row
• The ball is not to touch the ground or walls at all.

BING
Good warm up In a circle. Pass a “WHOOSH” around the circle in one direction, making a clapping
and focus game point action with both hands. Once students are comfortable and the speed of the
“whoosh” is faster, stop the “whoosh” and add a “bing” doing the same action but
in the opposite direction and saying “BING”. Practice sending the “BING” around the
circle. Once students are comfortable you will send a “WHOOSH” around the circle
one way at the same time you send a “BING” in the opposite direction.

Extension: You can add in additional actions / sounds.

BIPPETY, BIPPETY, BOP

A really fun Students stand in a circle with the teacher in the middle. The teacher points to
circle game students who have to respond quickly or else they’re out.
promoting
concentration. Teacher says:
“BIPPETY BIPPETY BOP” (quickly): the student who is being pointed at must say
An absolute “BOP” before the teacher finishes
favourite
“BOP”: The student must say nothing. If the student pointed at starts to say “bop”
Played quickly or anything else, they are out.

Objects: Choose as many of the following objects to also add to the game. Teacher
points at a student and calls out an object, and that student and the two students
either side must quickly react to form the object before the teacher counts down 5,
4, 3, 2, 1. It is suggested that you only use 1 or 2 extra things for the first time you
play and get students used to the game by introducing 1 rule at a time (start by

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 4
 practicing “bippety bippety bop” then “bop” then add objects). If the students don’t
react and create the object in time, they are out.

Objects:
• ELEPHANT: The student being pointed at makes an elephant trunk with their
arms (and an elephant noise if you like) and the 2 people on either side must
quickly become the elephant ears, shaping their arms on either side of the
trunk.
• WASHING MACHINE: The student in the middle “spins” as the two students
either side create the walls of the washing machine
• AEROPLANE: The student in the middle becomes the pilot, holding their hands
to their eyes in a goggle shape. The two students either side become the plane
wings, pointing outwards.
• TOASTER: The student in the middle becomes the toast and the two students
either side become the outside of the toaster. All three must duck down and the
toast ‘pops up’ from the middle of the toaster.
• ROLLERCOASTER: One student kneels in front, the middle student ‘sits’ in the
middle and the third student stands behind. The middle student must put their
arms up in the air and “scream” while the rollercoaster moves backwards,
forwards, sideways.
• HAWAII: Middle student does the hula and the 2 students either side become
palm trees swaying in the wind.
• CAR: Middle student takes the wheel of the car and “beep beeps” and the two
students either side become the windscreen wipers.

BODY HIDE
A fun team In groups of 5 – 6, students must ‘hide’ one of the group members with their bodies.
building activity The teacher and audience try to see pieces of the hidden person (shoes, an ear etc)
and call out what they can see as the group adapts to hide the whole person.

Extension: When the group succeeds, remove a person so they have to hide the
person with 4, 3, 2 students.

DRAMA FREEZES
Practice “drama The ability to FREEZE is vital to drama activities. Practice the following drama freezes
freezes” before doing your drama activities. Count students in 1,2,3 to show the following:

Create • You have just seen superman flying in the sky

characters and • You have just been splashed with mud
situations • You are pointing to something interesting
• You have a stomach ache
• You are modelling for a photo shoot
• You are being chased by a lion
• You are in the middle of a big dance move
• You are about to crash into something
• You are looking up at a giant

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 5
 • You are getting dressed
• You are eating messy spaghetti
• You just stubbed your toe
• You are singing in the shower

Or try these character freezes:

• Police Officer
• Ticket Inspector
• Body Guard
• Principal
• Businessman / woman
• Burglar

Extension: “Freeze and Go”. Ask students to create a freeze and count them in to
ACTION. On ACTION, students have to walk, move and talk or make sounds like the
character or in reaction to the situation.

Check out Drama Trunk CHARACTER and QUIRKY CHARACTER

Drama Cards for hundreds of character ideas!
Or check out Drama Trunk GROUP FREEZE FRAMES Drama Cards
for more freeze frame activities.

DRAMATIC DEATHS
An absolute In small groups, students must create a “dramatic death by scene” where a
favourite for character (or more than one) dies. Teacher gives students a “death by” (i.e.
students and chocolate) and the students must come up with a creative scene. For more
great for advanced students, push them to think of not-so-obvious stories.
improvisation
and creative Alternative: Try “death in a minute”.
scripting skills
Check out Drama Trunk DRAMATIC DEATHS Drama Cards for
hundreds of dramatic death ideas + more drama activities!
For something different, try Drama Trunk GREAT ESCAPES!

EVOLUTION
Play “paper Students play “paper, rock, scissors” to evolve to the next stage.
rock scissors” in
a drama way EVOLUTIONARY STAGES:

1. EGG – All students start as an egg. They must crouch down and find another
“egg” to play “paper, rock, scissors” with. Once they win, they move to the next
evolutionary stage. If they lose, they must find another egg to play. There
should be 1 egg stuck as an egg at the end of the game.
2. CHICKEN - Students must take on the characteristics of a chicken and “cluck”
around the space, walking like a chicken (with their arms shaped like wings).
Chickens must play other chickens and win “paper rock scissors” to move to the

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 6
 next evolutionary stage. Match losers must find another chicken to play. There
should be 1 chicken left at the end of the game.
3. MONKEY – Students must take on the characteristics of a monkey and “oooh
oooh ahhh ahh” as they look for another monkey to play. Monkeys play
monkeys in “rock paper scissors” to move to the next evolutionary stage.
4. DINOSAUR – Students must stand up and “roar” like a dinosaur, moving like a t-
rex type dinosaur (with claws).
5. STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE. For the last stage, I like to have students line up on
a line and start singing the tune “Stop, in the name of love, before you break my
heart. Think it over”. Students are taught simple actions to go along with the
song (hand forward on “stop”; move that hand around to the side on “in the
name of love”; pointing forward on “before you”; breaking action with both
hands on “break my heart” and rolling arms on “think it over”). It’s a nice last
evolutionary stage as it adds a choral song and nice energy to the game.
Students repeat the tune until the game ends.

Change the evolutionary stages as you like and reorder if you prefer. I’ve seen aliens
used also.

EXAGGERATION CIRCLE
Students Students stand in a circle. The aim of this game is to create exaggerated gestures.
practice The teacher starts the game by doing a simple gesture. The next student in the circle
exaggerated must make the gesture a little more exaggerated. Students continue around the
gestures circle, making the gesture more and more exaggerated until it is completely over the
top. Students should focus on exaggerating the gesture, not changing it completely!

Extension: add a sound to the gesture.

EXPERT DOUBLE FIGURES

A really funny Four students take the stage. Two students are allocated the roles of the ‘arms’, one
game where student is the ‘interviewer’ and one student is the ‘expert’.
students must
react to the The interviewer and expert sit on a chair next to each other and put their arms
addition of behind their backs. The ‘arms’ kneel behind the chairs and put their arms through
arms and the gap between the bodies of the two students in the chairs. The effect is that the
develop arms of the interviewer and expert are played by the other two students.
improvisation
skills The interviewer welcomes the audience to the show and introduces an expert guest
who is “here to talk about....”. The expert discusses their strange expertise and the
interviewer asks questions. The arms must work with their partners, reacting to the
dialogue and making appropriate gestures with their hands.

Check out Drama Trunk TITLES Drama Cards for story title ideas!
or Drama Trunk ODD INVENTIONS Drama Cards for a hilarious
original take on this activity.
Or add a MOOD to these scenes with Drama Trunk MOODS
cards!

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 7
 FINGERTIPS
A trust building Students lead a blindfolded partner around an obstacle course touching only
activity fingertips to fingertips.

Variation: Students use stage directions to direct their partner through an obstacle
course.

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE

A great activity Students walk around the space in a large circle (but not in single line). The teacher
to get students shouts different body parts that the students must lead with while they walk (nose,
thinking about chin, stomach, head, knee, foot, left arm etc...)
character
movement Extension: Encourage students to start thinking of different characters that
might walk that way. You can also add in Laban categories for movement
(light, heavy, sustained etc...)

Check out Drama Trunk MOVEMENT and DRAMA SHOES Drama

Cards for more movement activities!

GIANTS, KNIGHTS AND WIZARDS

A really fun In a circle, teach and practice 3 actions/sounds
adaptation of
GIANTS: stamp their feet with their arms in the air and say “fee fi fo fum”
“rock paper
scissors” KNIGHTS: draw their swords and say “en guard”
encouraging WIZARDS: throw both arms forward as if throwing a spell and say “shazaam”
group ethos
Split the class into 2 even sized groups. The groups must stand far enough away
from each other to secretly decide as a group whether they will become goblins,
giants or wizards. Once they have decided (you can give them a short period to
decide) the groups stand opposite each other. The teacher counts the groups in 1, 2,
3 and on 3 they must do the action/sound as a group.

Instruct students that:

Goblins beat Giants
Giants beat Wizards
Wizards beat Goblins
After they have completed the whole action/sound, the losing team must run back
to their line before the winning team members catch them. Any losing team
member caught by the other team becomes part of the new team. Play until all
players are on one team only.

Alternative: Students find pairs and on 3 become either a Giant, Knight or Wizard.
The losing pair goes out and the remaining students find a new partner to “Giant,
Knight, Wizard” with. Play until there is a winner. If any match results in a draw,
students play the same person again until one of them wins.

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 8
 GIBBERISH STORIES
A good activity Students must tell a story in gibberish. Start by practicing gibberish with them and
to develop lead with an example (nonsense language). It is also a good idea to have students
pantomime practice their ‘gibberish’ with a partner. Ask them to tell their partner about their
skills and to favourite movie in gibberish.
think about use
of vocal tone, Stand the class in a circle. One at a time, students enter the circle and add to the
pace etc. to tell story in gibberish. Students should use movement and facial expression and try to
a story continue the story where it left off.

Story ideas: try a western or horror movie or retell a classic fairy tale.

Check out Drama Trunk (free) GENRES Drama Cards to inspire

this activity!

Or check out Drama Trunk SCENE SCENARIOS, IMPROVISATION

SCENE STARTERS or TITLES for scene starting inspiration!

GROUP FREEZE
A concentration Students and teacher walk around the space. As soon as the teacher stops walking,
game that students must “freeze”. See how quickly the group can freeze.
focuses
students on Extension: Instead of the teacher, any student (or a secretly allocated) student can
their surrounds stop, prompting everyone else to freeze.

HUMAN KNOT
A classic Students stand in a circle (groups of around 7 or 8 work well), close their eyes and
activity (not find 2 different hands to hold in the circle. Students must make sure they are
technically a holding 2 different student’s hands and may need to adjust themselves when they
drama game) open their eyes. Students now must untangle the group without letting go of any
that promotes hands. They will have to work together and communicate to move the group out of
group the knot.
cooperation
Extension: Try it as a whole class or have a competition to see what group can
untangle themselves first.

IF YOU LOVE ME, HONEY, GIVE ME A SMILE

A game to get Students stand in a circle. The first student in the middle must approach another
everyone student and say:
laughing “Honey, if you love me, give me a smile?”

And without laughing or smiling (with an absolutely dead pan expression), that
person must say:

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 9
 “Honey, you know I love you but I just can’t smile”
If the middle student manages to make a student smile, they switch places and the
smiling student must try to get someone else to smile.
Rules:
• Absolutely no touching, the student in the middle must use their voice, facial
expression, movement, focus and gestures to try and “crack” the target student
into smiling/laughing.
• The student in the middle, stays in the middle until they can make someone
smile.
• If someone doesn’t smile, the student in the middle must move on to the next
student. They can’t keep targeting the same person.

JOB INTERVIEW
A really fun One student (interviewee) leaves the room so that they cannot hear the character
game that gets that they are assigned. The class (or teacher) decide on a job type that will be the
students focus of the interview.
thinking about
characters and The interviewee enters the job interview and sits on a chair facing the audience. The
introduces the audience then asks the interviewee questions to ascertain whether they are suitable
technique of for the job. The key is to ask appropriate questions related to what that person / job
“hot seating” is but not to be too obvious to give it away too quickly. The teacher should lead the
questioning and start with an example run so that the class understands good
questions.
Check out Drama Trunk CHARACTER, QUIRKY CHARACTER and
FAMOUS CHARACTERS Drama Cards for hundreds of character
ideas!

KEY FOCUS
A great focus Students stand in a circle. Teacher places a set of keys (or something else) in the
activity middle of the circle. One at a time, students must look at the keys, then close their
teaching eyes and try to walk with their eyes closed into the circle and place their hands on
students about the keys. Encourage students to focus on the keys and “see them in their minds”
spacial before they close their eyes.
awareness and
connectedness Rules:
• No counting steps / measuring distance
• No diving at the keys or doing a general foot sweep. Students must purposefully
and directly walk into the circle and put their hands on the keys
• No feeling around with hands on the ground. Students must purposefully and
directly bend down and place their hand on the ground where they think the
keys are. They can then open their eyes and look to see how close they are.

Students won’t likely succeed at this the first time (unless its luck) but they will get
better at it as they practice and will love this activity. As students get better, start
making the circle bigger.

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 10
 LOCATION FREEZE
Students use Teacher explains that a “frozen tableaux” is a frozen picture or postcard that the
their students will make to show the class a location or setting. Students will be directed
imagination to to get up one at a time and think of something or someone that would be in a
create frozen location.
“tableaux” that
depict locations The teacher prompts students to create a “tableaux” or “frozen picture” with
around 5 or 6 students, getting input from the class about what characters / things
Students accept they might find in the location.
“offers” made Example:
by other The scene is in a HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM: Teacher asks students to think of
students and characters they might find in a hospital waiting room. Teacher encourages students
explore to interact with each other and to complement other freezes. (see next page)
imagery • Doctor – teacher asks one student to hop onto the stage and show a freeze like
a doctor doing something in the scene. The doctor might be reading a chart or
Students learn examining a patient.
the drama • Nurse – teacher directs a student to take a freeze as a nurse, thinking about
technique of what the nurse might be doing. The nurse might take a freeze like they are
‘tableaux’ talking to the doctor or perhaps the nurse is at the nurses desk.
• Patient – teacher directs a student to take a freeze as a patient. Perhaps they
become the patient who is being examined by the doctor. The patient might
hold their leg as if it were broken.
• Parent – teacher directs a student to take a freeze as the parent of the patient.
Perhaps they put their arm on the shoulder of the patient or freeze like they are
asking the doctor or nurse a question.
• Paramedic – teacher directs a student to take a freeze as a paramedic. Perhaps
they are wheeling in a stretcher bed with another patient they just picked up in
the ambulance.
• Patient on Stretcher - Encourage students to interact in the scene and work with
the existing tableaux. As the last freeze was a paramedic wheeling a patient in,
encourage a student to become that patient.

Try different locations and create multiple frozen pictures! You can have as little or
as many students as you like in the tableaux.

Extension: Have students come up with 1 line to say as their character. Once the
frozen picture is complete, prompt the students to take it in turns to say their line.

Extension: After saying 1 line each, direct students to create a short improvised
scene starting with the frozen picture. The scene should show the interaction
between characters and be based on the frozen tableaux they have created. Give
the scene a timeframe (30-60 seconds).

Check out Drama Trunk LOCATION Drama Cards for hundreds of

location ideas + more drama activities.
Alternatively, try Drama Trunk OLYMPIC EVENTS or HISTORICAL
EVENTS Drama Cards for this and more drama activities!

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 11
 LOCATION PROPS
A good Students must enter the chosen “location” and, without saying what the object is,
concentration create / use an object that would be present in that environment. Each subsequent
game that also student that enters the environment must use the objects that were created before
gets students them by previous players (not necessarily in order). This requires students to pay
thinking about
close attention to all previous students and attempt to recall all of the objects that
drama
have been created (and use them). Each student also adds their own object. Less
environments
confident students should go earlier in the game so as to recall less objects (to begin
Develop with).
pantomime Example: The environment is an OFFICE. The first student enters and uses a
skills
computer. The second student must use the computer and come up with a new
object (let’s say, a pen). The third student must use the computer, the pen and
create something new.

At the end of the game, students should reflect on the location and what objects
were created.

Mime: It’s optional whether to have the scene in mime or not. If the scene does
have sound, students should not identify the item they are creating/using by name
(i.e. “I am just going to use this computer over here”), rather, they can create a
scene around the item. For new groups, mime is probably best.

Check out Drama Trunk LOCATIONS Drama Cards for hundreds

of location ideas! Or try WORLD DESTINATION Drama Cards! For
more prop scenes, check out Drama Trunk PROP SCENES Drama
Cards.

LOOK UP, LOOK DOWN

Fun warm up Students stand in a circle and begin by looking down. When the teacher says “look
that can be up” all students must look up and look straight ahead or sideways at another
played quickly student (not above heads, to the ground etc.)
If 2 students make eye contact, both students must “scream” and die. They perform
a quick dramatic death, fall over and then sit in the middle of the circle until the
game finishes. When the teacher says “look down” all students must look down
again until they are told to “look up” and look at another student. Make the circle
tighter as more students go out.

MIRROR
A good focus Students must face a partner and “mirror” their actions. Encourage the leader to do
activity which big and slow movements and switch around so that everybody has a turn leading.
also acts as a Prompt students to use their faces (do funny faces in slow motion) and to use every
gentle physical part of their body.
warm up

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 12
 MIRROR GROUPS
A good focus Similar to the last activity in that students must use the mirror technique. Except,
activity which this time they mirror in groups of 4 and add move throughout the space. Explain to
also acts as a students that there should always be a leader but that the leader changes
gentle physical depending on the direction that the group is facing. Students should arrange
warm up
themselves in a diamond pattern, all facing the same way. The forward-facing
student is the first leader and the rest of the group follows their actions (mirroring)
Extension of
above mirror from behind. When the front leader turns around, a new leader leads the group.
activity Students should try to move seamlessly from one leader to another.

For example: The front leader turns around 90 degrees to their right. The student
on the right side of the diamond formation is now the leader and the group follow
(mirror) that person.

Extension: Try a whole class mirror activity, where different students have a turn
leading.

Check out more movement activities with Drama Trunk

MOVEMENT and DRAMA SHOES Drama Cards! For another
partner activity, check out CHARACTER SWITCH Drama Cards!

OBJECTS (LIVING PICTURES)

Students work Teacher explains that students must use their bodies to create objects. In small
together to groups (3-4) students work together to become different parts of objects. For
create shapes example, teacher calls out “roast dinner” and one student becomes a carrot (lying
with their out long and straight), one student becomes the plate (making a circle body shape
bodies around the carrot) one student becomes the roast potatoes (crouching) and one
student becomes the meat (making a meat shape).
Develop
pantomime Encourage students to think creatively and tell them that there are no wrong ways
skills to create the objects as long as they are working together.
• Give students a timeframe and count down while they are creating the freezes
• Provide individual group prompting as the groups create their freezes

Example objects: Boat; Swivel Chair; Microwave; Letters

Extension: add in sounds and repetitive movement

Check out Drama Trunk LIVING PICTURES Drama Cards for Living
Picture ideas + more drama activities!

ONE WORD AT A TIME STORY

A funny drama The objective of this game is for the whole class (or small groups) to tell a coherent
game that is story “one word at a time”. Around the circle, students add a single word to an
also very useful ongoing story. Give students a topic or story title to begin with. Remind students

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 13
 for English that they can start new sentences (often, single sentences can go on for too long).
language and
writing skills Variation: This game can also be played as “one line at a time story”. Each person
must add a new sentence to the story, taking it in turns to create a coherent story.

Use Drama Trunk OPENING LINES and TITLES Drama Cards to get
this activity going!

POPCORN
Students work The aim of the game is to get the whole class standing. If the activity is taking too
together to long, record the high score and try to beat it another time.
popcorn
numbers in Students sit silently in a circle. Students must randomly stand up whilst saying a
sequence consecutive number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 so on). If two students stand and say a number at
the same, everyone must sit down and start at 1 again. The game requires the class
to cooperate and use non verbal communication to achieve their goal (no talking
other than the popcorn numbers).

PRESENTS
A creative Before you begin, practice miming opening a present with the students showing
activity to how to mime taking the paper off and opening the flaps of a box.
practice
pantomime In pairs, one student hands another student an imaginary present. Their partner
skills and takes the box and opens it and pulls out something that they have always wanted.
develop The student says (in a loud and excited voice)
improvisations
skills “I’ve always wanted a ..........”

Students think And interacts briefly with the object. Encourage loud voices.
about how to
represent This activity should be done quickly. Switch the students around a few times so they
objects have a few goes each of giving and receiving presents.

Check out Drama Trunk MIME Drama Cards for more mime
activities!

PRIMAL SCREAMS
A good warm In a circle. One at a time, a student steps into the middle of the circle and does a
up to get the large action accompanied by a loud sound (as loud as possible). The student steps
vocal chords back and the rest of the circle copies the sound and action all together.
working and
release energy For another circle activity, check out Drama Trunk ARGUMENT
STARTERS!

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 14
 QUICK CHANGE ARTIST
Develop One student becomes the “quick change artist” and stands in front of the class
observation showing off their different angles. The quick change artist then leaves the room and
skills changes something noticeable about themselves (puts their hair up, undoes a
button, switches left and right shoes etc...).

The quick change artist then comes back inside and stands at the front while the
audience tries to guess the change. The first student to guess the change becomes
the next quick change artist.

Extension: Do this in pairs.

SPLAT
Warm up activity Students stand in a circle and make sure they know the names of the two students
that is also either side of them. Explain that as people go out, the students who are standing
great for next to them will change and they must always make sure they know the name of
learning names the students on either side of them.

As the teacher starts calling out student names, the student whose name is called
out must “duck” out of the way and the two students on either side must throw a
cream pie at each other as they call out “SPLAT”.

If the student in the middle (whose name was called out) does not duck out of the
way in time – they are out. Otherwise, the last student to throw and call out
“SPLAT” is out. Whoever is out needs to sit in the middle of the circle and the game
continues until there is a winner.

Western Standoff (I use the following quick activity to get a winner whenever there
are 2 students left in a game). Two students stand with their backs to each other.
Tell the students the “magic number”. As the teacher calls out random numbers the
students take a step away from each other. When the “magic number” is called, the
first student to turn around and throw a pie at the other is the winner.

STRING OBJECTS
Students work You will need a long piece of string for this activity.
together to
create shapes Students take hold of the string with both hands and hold it at around waste level.
Explain to students that they must work as a group to create the shapes you call out
Encourages with the string (i.e. circle, square, triangle).
group
communication • You can also split the class into groups and see who creates the shape first.
• Ask students to try and make shapes without any sound or with their eyes
closed

For another great small group activity, check out Drama Trunk
PROP SCENES!

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 15
 SUPERHEROES TO THE RESCUE
A silly game to In groups of 4-5, one student starts onstage and is given a “silly superhero”
develop character to play (“Lipstick Man” “Captain Coco Pops” etc.). Have the class come up
improvisation with a made up crisis (“All the chocolate in the world has disappeared” “a meteor is
skills heading towards earth”). The crisis can be big or small (“you can’t find your shoes”).
The superhero onstage starts the scene explaining the crisis (they might start by
watching the television and seeing the crisis in a news report). At some stage the
superhero comes up with a new silly superhero and says:

“If only ....[superhero] was here to help me”

The new superhero answers the call, enters and introduces themself and their
special powers. The two characters proceed with the scene, discussing how they are
going to solve the crisis. The second superhero then introduces a third superhero
the same way:

“If only ....[superhero] was here to help us”

And so forth until all the students are in the scene. Once all of the superheroes are
in the scene, they attempt to solve the crisis and bring the scene to an end.

Alternative: If students are having difficulty coming up with new superheroes,

allocate each student a superhero before they start.

Check out Drama Trunk SILLY SUPERHEROES Drama Cards for

silly superhero ideas + more super drama activities!

THIS IS MY FRIEND
A great “get to Teacher splits class into pairs and tells the class that they only have “1 minute” to do
know you” this activity (this will prompt students to think quickly and because it is short, the
activity quieter students will feel more confident as they know they don’t have to talk for a
long time).
Students
practice talking In just 1 minute, one partner must tell the other as many things about themselves as
to each other possible. The teacher may prompt this before students begin with some examples of
and presenting things that they may talk about. Teacher tells students that once they are finished
information to talking for 1 minute, their partner is going to introduce them to the class and tell the
the whole class class a few things about them.
Example prompt questions:
• What is your favourite food?
• Do you have any pets?
• Do you have any siblings?
• What do you love to do (hobbies)?
• What was your last teacher’s name?
• What did you do on your last birthday?
• Name some things that you love.

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 16
 Once the students understand the activity and have been given some prompts,
teacher counts the first student in and says ACTION. Teacher walks around and
encourages / helps students.
Once a minute is up, the teacher asks their partners to tell the class 2 – 3 things
about their new friend. The class may sit down for this. Now, switch over so that
everyone has a turn to introduce a new friend.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

A classic drama One student starts in the middle of the circle and is given “something” to do (e.g.
game getting ready for a big night out”). The next student enters and asks the student

Develops “What are you doing?”

improvisation The first student responds with a different activity (different to what they have been
and pantomime doing) and leaves the circle. The second student immediately starts acting out the
skills new activity until the next student enters and asks “what are you doing?” They must
then come up with a new activity. Encourage actions and words in the short
improvised activities.
Keep playing around the circle.
Elimination: Once students get the hang of the game, start playing more quickly and
eliminate students who say “ummmm” or repeat an activity that has already been
said.

WHO SAID THAT?

A great “getting On a blank card, each student secretly writes something about themself that no one
to know you else knows. The teacher collects and shuffles the cards and hands them back to
activity” that students. Make sure that students haven’t been handed back their own card by
promotes mistake.
communication
Students must now try to find the author of the card.
Some students may need prompting about what to write. In that case, you can
suggest things like: favourite food? Favourite movie? Favourite pastime? Favourite
singer etc...
Prompt students to talk about how they found the author of the card and prompt
the students to talk about themselves and the card they wrote.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

A great One student starts onstage and is given a scenario or task that they start acting out.
accepting Teacher calls FREEZE and asks the audience “What happens next?”. The audience
activity that tell the next part of the story and the student onstage unfreezes and continues with
also gets the the scene, now adding in the additional part to the story.
audience
suggesting Add more students into the scene as you go along. Ask the audience to incorporate
story ideas more characters into the story and pick students to fill the new roles. The aim is to
tell a coherent story and for the performers to accept the story offers and act it out.

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 17
 YES, LETS!
A classic drama Teacher explains that in this game, the most important thing is that you accept
game teaching “offers” made by everyone to do an activity and puts lots of energy into acting out
students to the activity, using your voice and actions.
accept offers
The teacher prompts students to find their own space in the room and practices
Students use some actions. When the teacher says “Let’s ...activity....” the class must all say “Yes,
movement, Lets” loudly and then start acting out that activity.
gesture and Example:
voices The teacher calls out “Let’s dig a hole” and the class says “Yes, Lets!” and start
acting out digging a hole. The teacher should join in with the actions and saying
Students “yes, lets”. Students can add dialogue and sounds but don’t push this until they are
practice more comfortable.
improvisation
and responding Lets: Drive a car / Ride a horse / Skip around the class / Brush our hair / Catch a
butterfly / Tell a naughty child off
The teacher should encourage a very loud and enthusiastic “Yes, Lets!” which will
impact the energy the students put into acting out the activities. Students may also
be prompted to loudly suggest their own “Lets...” activity that the rest of the class
will then follow.

ZAP
Classic In a circle, students learn the following actions and sounds.
drama game
good for • WHOOSH: Introduce the first sound / action “WHOOSH”. One person passes the
focus “whoosh” to their neighbour by waving both hands at them and saying
“whoosh”. Practice passing the “whoosh” around in one direction.
• WHOA: Introduce the second sound/action “WHOA”. Holding arms out in a
‘stop’ manner and saying “WHOA” changes the direction of the whoosh. The
“whoosh” then continues in the other direction until another person says
“whoa”.
• ZAP: To pass the “whoosh” across the circle (instead of to a neighbour), say
“ZAP” while pointing and making a clapping action towards someone. The
receiver of the “zap” now has the “whoosh” and can either “whoosh” it to a
neighbour, “zap” it to another person across the circle or they can “whoa” and
send the “whoosh” back to the person who sent it saying “zap”.

You can add in additional actions / sounds and may prefer to use “ZIP ZAP BOING”
and clapping actions for all three.
Graphics credit:
TERMS OF USE
Please note that this product is for personal classroom or home school
use by a single purchaser only. You may not distribute, copy or modify
this product other than for your own personal classroom use.
© Drama Trunk. All rights reserved.

Drama Trunk ‘Free Drama Games and Activities for Primary’ Page 18
 Mrs. B’s
DRAMA TRUNK

You may also like the following resources available at Drama

Trunk (but check out Drama Trunk for even more):

DRAMA & IMPROV CARDS

Drama Trunk has a huge collection of Drama
and Improv cards and activities. Never be stuck
for a drama activity or improv prompt again!

NO-PREP DRAMA UNITS & LESSONS

Check out Drama Trunk for no-prep drama
units and lessons for all ages!